The Connection Between Oral Health and Sleep Apnea: What You Need to Know

We don’t often think about how our oral health is linked to our wider health. But when you remember that your mouth is the start of your digestive tract and your respiratory tract, it’s easy to see how the systems are closely linked.

Some health conditions can have an impact on your oral health, and your oral health could also aggravate certain conditions. Awareness of how these systems are linked can help you to make better decisions for your health.

Some of these connections will slip through the cracks, simply because you might not ask your doctor about oral health issues, and you might not mention wider health problems to your dentist.

One of these unexpected links is the connection between sleep apnea and your oral health. Let’s explore this relationship in further detail.

How does sleep apnea impact oral health?

If you suffer from sleep apnea, you are at increased risk of certain oral health conditions including dry mouth, gum disease, teeth grinding and tooth decay. Sleep apnea is a condition where a person struggles to breath during the night.

It could be linked to snoring, and is often the result of the sleeping position and the position of the tongue when falling asleep. Patients with sleep apnea resort to breathing through their mouth at night, rather than their nose. This leads to a dry mouth, which can promote the conditions for gum disease to thrive.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea might also suffer from bruxism, which is when you grind your teeth at night. This can exert incredible pressure on your teeth, leading to premature wearing down of the chewing surface. It could also lead to fractures and chips, not to mention considerable jaw pain.

How can your dentist help with sleep apnea?

The first step would be to visit your GP to arrange a sleep study so that you can understand the cause and extent of your sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can cause you to stop breathing in the night, which will wake you up. This can lead to very poor sleep quality which can impact your sleep in the long-term. If you are sleep-deprived, you might find that you make unhealthy food choices, because you are looking for quick sources of energy during the day.

Once you know the cause of your sleep apnea, you can work with your GP and your dentist to start addressing the issue. You may need a specially fitted mouth guard that will push your jaw into the correct position when you sleep. This can prevent your tongue from moving to the back of your mouth and stopping your breathing. It can also keep your mouth in a position that will allow you to breathe through your nose when you sleep.

Your dentist can also help you to address the secondary issues that might be linked to your sleep apnea, like gum disease and dry mouth. By taking action quickly, you can prevent these problems from causing long-term damage to your oral health.

Can sleep apnea be cured?

Yes, there are lots of treatment options available for sleep apnea. It might take some time to land on the right treatment plan for you, but it’s important to keep working with your GP and dentist to land on the right approach. Ignoring sleep apnea can have widespread implications for your oral health and your wider health, so it’s best to address this condition so that you can enjoy a restful night’s sleep.

If you’re struggling with sleep apnea or other sleep conditions impacting your oral health, get in touch with our team today.